Thursday, June 26, 2008

Deb and Randy Buursma Take 2: Emptying Ourselves

Week four of the Calvin LCI was concluded with a second helping of Deb and Randy Buursma’s wisdom. In the typical Buursma fashion of interactive and energetic learning, the Calvin Staff at Snow Mountain Ranch was encouraged to think about our listening skills as well as the effort involved in emptying ourselves before God. We were encouraged to think again about Jesus in Philippians 2:6-7.

We were urged, using this model of servant-leadership, to empty ourselves before God and humble ourselves as leaders. To empty ourselves, we learned, comes not as a spiritual discipline, but with a broken heart in need of healing.

On Saturday a large majority of the Calvin group, along with the Buursmas, spent most of the day in Denver. We went to the Denver zoo, walked around downtown and saw the Rockies smoke the Mets in a 7-1 victory. On Wednesday, we went to Winter Park to take advantage of their Alpine Slide and other activities. Overall, we had a fantastic two-week period. Almost everyone was able to take advantage of hikes, fires, meals and one-on-ones with the Buursmas.

About

The Leadership Challenge Institute (LCI) provides an intensive experiential learning work-study/action-reflection leadership training experience for about 30 Calvin students, as well as several from other area colleges, who are summer employees of Snow Mountain Ranch/YMCA of the Rockies located in Winter Park, Colorado. The Leadership Challenge Institute exists to promote Christian Discipleship and to develop leadership skills in its participants. Over the course of ten weeks, LCI participants attend weekly seminars by Calvin faculty on leadership and relational/interpersonal topics, as well as particpating in small groups and participatory learning. Snow Mountain Ranch is located on the Continental Divide at 9,000 feet. The 5,000 acre YMCA of the Rockies is the largest YMCA in the World serving over 2,300 guests each day. Situated near the Rocky Mountain National Park and in the midst of forest and mountains, Snow Mountain Ranch is a place of wonder and spectacular beauty! As one guest wrote, "If God took a vacation...he would be here!"